Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 743 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

eg en tee en eR eee ere ee te neni sameaeent - 14 — a —— CHAPTER XXX, ANOTHER BLOW. WHEN Bible Bill overtook the two children they at once told him how they had overheard the chief tell the man who came with them to get the money if be could, and bring them back too, to be held for ten thousand dollars more ransom, ‘““Only your bravery saved us, sir, for you frightened that man,” said the young girl. ** Yes, you did, and [ thought you were going to shoot him, and he was awful scared,” the boy added. **l only wish he had given me the chance,” muttered Bible Bill. W hen they had gotten back to the timber they were met by the fathers of the two children, and Bible Bill was made a hero of at once, as soon as all that had passed had been told by the girl and boy. ‘* Had a less courageous man than you gone, Bible Bill, we would never have seen our chil- dren,” said one of the rancheros, Then the children told how they had been blindfolded and their hands tied behind them, when they were carried off. They bad not been allowed to see until they were taken to a cabin in the mountains, and there they were kept constantly under guard of an old hunchback, they said. When taken away from the cabin they had been blindfolded again, and while there tkey had only seen the old hunchback, Ruth Redmond had gone to the scene with her cowboys, and taking the children apart she had had each one tell the story of their capture and imprisonment, J She had asked many questions, and when at jast she started home she said to Bible Bill: ‘* Those are not Indians,” ** The one I met was not.” ‘* None of them are,” ‘* How do you know, Captain Ruth?” ‘* Well, I got a great deal of information from those children.” sé Yes,” ‘* They were taken to a cabin in the moun- tains.” ‘t So they said.” ‘*They were guarded by an old hunchback, witk long gray beard and hair.” ‘* Ah! the man we saw?” ‘*Of course, and the comradeef Dick Drum- mond,” ‘** So it seems.” ‘* Now those children did not cross any big stream going to the cabin of the hunchback.” ** Indeed?” ‘They said they were blindfolded, and re- membered crossing streams, but no very large one, ‘* By Jove, Captain Ruth, you ferret out well,” said Bible Bill admiringly. ‘* Then they did not cross the Rio Grande,” AES Su, we tracked the Red Raiders to the io, ‘‘True, and they may have ridden in, gone a short distance above and come out.” se True.” **Or the band might have crossed and the children, who werecaptured at different times, taken by one man to the retreat.” ‘* That is so, miss,” ‘* Now I gleaned from the two the same story, and I am convinced that the band does not num- ber over a dozen men, and that they have their retreat on Texas soil, ‘** They may cross the river, go up to another ford and recross; but they have their den on this side and we must find them.” ‘‘T am more than ready to make the attempt, Captain Ruth,” And back to Sunset Ranch went Ruth and her cowboys to meet a surprise, The night they were absent the Red Riders had been there. They had not found her horses, so they had escaped being crippled, as the cowboys that had been left behind bad driven them to a hiding- place for the night. _Two of her men had been killed, as they re- sisted, and her home had been plundered of a number of little valuables, while Primus and Nannie had been scared almost to death. ‘Ob Lordy! but wasn’t ther cap’n mad when be found you wasn’t home, missy,” said Primua. “He did cuss that hard as I never b’lieved a red me know’d how, and swor’d he’d git even yet,” Nannie remarked. Ruth heard all and then asked quietly: ‘* How many were there?” “The cap’n, missy, and jist ten.” **See, Bible Bill, and the hunchback went Buck Taylor’s Boys. with the children and gave them over to the messenger, and they would make up the dozen,” said Ruth. ‘*T guess you are right, miss.” ‘* Well, they came here after me, I am sure; but they weuld have found us ready for them had we been at home.” ‘‘They certainly would, and I wish they would only call again. ‘*T saw that scamp smile when I told him we would have nothing more to dread from the Red Riders, for he knew then that tuey were raiding the ranch, but expected you were here.” ‘**T will tell you why 1 know they came after me, Bible Bill,” and the impressive manner in which Ruth spoke caused the cowboy chief to feel that she had something ‘of more than ordi- nary interest to tell him, CHAPTER XXXII. BIBLE BILL WINS. ‘*LeT me tell you, Bible Bill, what I have kept a secret, as I did not care to have any one know it, nor did I desire the money, ‘You know,” continued Ruth, ‘‘that my father left me this ranch, with a number of cattle upon it.” sé Yes.” ** You also know that he had an interest in a gold mine, which an honest man turned over to me, and I then became possessed of a large fortune, **As I wedded Devil Dick, who fascinated me, simply through my admiration of manliness and courage, for [could not see his evil heart, I turned over to him my entire fortune. ‘‘The resulé was that he squandered it, and then discovered that I had come in possession of another fortune, a secret I had kept from him, ‘* My father had an uncle who was a sailor and settled in the West Indies, where he made an enormous fortune, ‘‘He married there a very rich woman, who died soon after, leaving no children, and be- queathing to him all of her riches. ‘‘Some years ego this uncle died and he left to his nearest heirs all of his vast wealth, ‘*These heirs were my Uncle Redmond and myself, for we have no more kindred, ‘*As Uncle Redmond died, and his wife soon followed him, that left me the sole possessor of the large estate, which is in the care of com- petent executors in New Orleans. ‘*The letter telling me that I was an heir, along with my uncle, Dick Drummond found. ‘*He knew that I would never claim it, if I had to give it up to him, and so he sought to kill me vhat he might claim my fortune. ** He very nearly was successful, but I lived, returned to my uncle and aunt, and you know what followed. ‘*Now that Devil Dick knows I am alone the heir of all, he is determined to get me in his power to force me to give tim gold, and I tell you that I feel, I know, that Richard Drum- mond is the leader of the Red Riders.” ‘*‘T believe you areright. Captain Ruth,” earn- estly said Bible Bill. ‘*T know that I am.” | ‘* Tt is just like him.” ‘* Yes, und he is as brave as he is cunning.” ‘* He will do anything.” ‘* See how well he has planned these raids,” ** He bas, indeed.” ‘* His men are disguised as Indians, and he has ra eve force of picked villains that he can han- e. ‘* He and the hunchback visited the ranches, and made their pick of the ones to raid. ‘*He has a den in Texas, but retreats across the river to give an idea that they are Mexican raiders, ** But Dick Drummond is outlawed in Mexico even by outlaws, and he would not dare remain there over night, so [ am sure he recrosses at the nearest ford and goes to his retreat, over which the hunchback holds sway. ‘‘They are splendidly mounted, well armed, ick the best horses for carrying off their plun- iar. and cripple the others.” ‘* Yes, and that is as cruel as to kill.” “‘Tt is worse, to cripple a poor, dumb beast; but it is just like the nature of Richard Drum- mond to do so, ‘‘He has no heart, knows no mercy, and de- gets to torture and to kill a human being or rute. ‘* He was in his element as renegade chief of the Comanches, for he could teach them cruel- ties they would shudder at, savages though they are, ‘* Now let me tell you more how he has hurt me, and you will know whether I long to hunt him down or not,” and she told tke sad story of his marriage to Ella Glenn, and then of his we?- ding her while his first wife yet lived, and of all his cruel treatment to those who had loved him, ‘* Now, Bible Bill, I have told you all, ‘* Long ago, when you believed that I was a poor girl, living upon the charity of my uncle and aunt, you told me of your love for me, and asked me to be your wife, ‘* When I told you I could not marry you, never have you again spoken to me on the sub- ject. ‘* But I have read your heart and eyes but too well, and I was determined that you should know all of my bitter life. ‘*T have told you, and it tells you that I can- not give you a heart upon which a stain has fallen.” ‘You are wrong, Captain Ruth, for you are as pure asa lily, you are a true woman, true as steel to yourself, and I would now ask you again to be my wife, only you are so rich I would not dare do so.” ‘‘Knowing all, you ask me to marry you, William Darling?” 6s I do,” ‘** Well, let me tell you that your love and de- votion have won my admiration, my gratitude, yes, my affection, and when Richard Drum- mond has been punished by death for his crimes, I will be your wife. ‘* But see, there comes a body of horsemen across the prairie,” and Ruth pointed to where a porty of mounted men just came in sight. nstantly Bible Bill seized the bugle hanging to his belt and blew wild notes of alarm to rally his men, for the horsemen coming might be the Red Riders, returning to complete their villain- ous work Ly the kidnapping of Ruth Redmond. CHAPTER XXXII. THE VOLUNTEER FERRETS, THE cowboys of Sunset Ranch rallied quick- ly to the bugle-call of their chief, and as the horsemen drew near they were ready to meet them in battle, But suddenly Ruth, who had her glass upon them, called out: ‘‘ Tt is Buck Taylor and bis boys,” A cheer greeted this, and off dashed Bible Bill and bis cowboys to meet and greet them. Watching them, Rutb saw the tall form of Buck Taylor in the lead, and bebind him came agroup of men riding close together, and who she saw were prisoners, and Indians, or such they appeared to be. | Behind these came a Jarge number of horses laden with heavy packs, and a score of mounted men, Buck Taylor’s Boys, brougbt up the rear. The cowboys from Sunset Ranch circled around them with wild yells of joy, and seemed ulmost frantic as they came on toward the house, Riding up to the steps Buck Taylor dis- mounted, and raising his sombrero said pleas- antly: vs Cantaitl Ruth, I have brought you the Red Riders of the Rio Grande as prisoners.” Ruth Redmond turned deadly pale and faltered forth: ‘‘ and their leader,jDevil Dick?” ‘¢ Ah! you knew he was their chief?” sé Yes.” ** He is dead.” ‘ Dead?” ‘6 'Yor,” ** Are you sure?” ‘| hanged him and saw him buried, Captain Ruth.” ** W ben?” ‘* At sunrise this morning.” ‘*'You are sure it was Devil Dick?” eagerly said Ruth Redmond, **Do you know this ring?” and Buck Taylor banded over a large seal ring. ‘* Yes, it was bis.” ‘* Here is his watch also, and in this pack are a number of bis traps, some papers and his weapons,” nel ‘¢ And you hanged him?” ‘Yes, Captain Ruth, and all the band were taken except one, an old gray-haired hermit. ‘He escaped, but Devil Dick and bis band of twelve men are accounted for, as we shot six in our fight with them, and there are six more who are to hang, for I shall deliver them over to the Vigilantes; but these men will tell you ore oa was no doubt of the hanging of their chief. ** And that was Devil Dick?’ ‘* Yes, for they knew him well. i ae Ss ae ‘You see, I got all the stolen plunder too, ) - ——e a Qa ee — . a SS rrr.